Construction to proceed on RDC road project next month

Construction will begin in May on revamping Red Deer College’s entrance into two intersections to help ease traffic congestion along 32nd Street.

The major road project will see the existing College Boulevard entrance to the college eliminated, along with existing traffic signals.

Road crews will realign the boulevard to match up with the 57th Avenue and 55th Avenue intersections, and traffic signals will be installed at both of these locations.

“This will create a signalized one-way in and one-way out access, respectively,” said City of Red Deer transportation engineer Michael Williston.

The city expects road work will continue through to October, with the bulk of the project being finished by August 31 to minimize disruptions to students.

Other work includes widening 32nd Street on the south side to allow two dedicated-through lanes of traffic in both east and west directions and building dual left-turns at the 57th Avenue one-way entrance into the college. Eastbound to northbound left-turn bays will be built at 57th Avenue and 55th Avenue. A right-turn bay will be built so drivers can enter the college at 57th Avenue.

Crews will also landscape along 32nd Street and where the existing College Boulevard is taken out.

Pedestrians will also have a widened sidewalk on the north side of 32nd Street, plus an asphalt path with lighting along the roads entering the college.

Last week, city council approved spending an extra $612,000 on the project after it came in over budget. The bill now stands at $6,812,000.

The additional funds will come out of the municipal capital reserves and a basic capital grant. The college is sharing 40 per cent of the costs.

The city only received one tender, from Border Paving, for the project.

Engineering Services manager Tom Warder said the project is now involving more work, but he noted the city is getting a “reconstructed road out of the deal.”